they're all the age of those kids up in newtown, connecticut. i don't want my kids to end up like them. >> reporter: earl mitchell is a retired lieutenant commander in the navy, served 28 years. yet today he's marching to the nra's headquarters on capitol hill with this message. >> let's stop all the assault weapons. >> reporter: he's joined by other vets, parents, and teachers like karen martinez. >> i'm here because i'm tired of lighting candles and crying and praying for victims of violent crimes. and i want to do something. >> shame on the nra. shame on the nra. >> reporter: but mid-march they hear this. arm the teachers, arm the principals, the man is saying. he's booed but he still comes outside. >> the truth is if there was one teacher or one principal armed with one shot could have saved dozens of children. >> how about japan? probably the safest country in the world. we don't need them. >> reporter: three days aft second worst school -- after the second worst school shooting in american history, the debate of gun control rages on the si